THE main attraction of this year's summer festival extravaganza is set to be bigger than ever, organisers have exclaimed.

Carnival Day takes place on Saturday and will once again include the parade and wildly popular Downhill Derby.

This year, the famous walking parade takes on a dog theme, with prizes for best dressed dog and jolliest dog.

The downhill derby begins at 4pm with participants speeding down Cliff Hill in home made karts.

There will be fairground rides and a stage situated on the Cliff Top with music, food and drink from 12pm–10pm.

A classic car parade is set to arrive on The Esplanade from 12.45pm, with the walking parade leaving the Kymin at 2pm.

There will be deckchairs for hire, food stalls and jazz music on The Esplanade, as well as Punch and Judy and a Guest Who photo booth.

In Windsor Gardens, Penarth Zoo will be open from 1pm – 6pm with small animals, donkey rides, the friends of Cardiff Dogs Home and workshops from the environmental social enterprise Green City.

The Kymin on Beach Road is also being taken over a youth zone for the event. This will include games, crafts and food all day.

And, as always, the whole day will culminate in a large fireworks display from Penarth Pier at 10pm.

Town clerk Emma Smith said: "Penarth Town Council members and staff are very much looking forward to the culmination of this year’s Summer Festival with Carnival Day on Saturday.

"A lot of hard work and effort goes into organising the day’s events and it is testament to Penarth’s strong community spirit that everyone comes together to enjoy what the town has to offer.

"I look forward to meeting many residents and visitors on what is my first Carnival Day as town clerk."

To help people move around the town, two free shuttle buses will run from 11.30am – 7pm calling at stops between the town centre and the Cliff Top with the last bus leaving the pier at 7pm.

Parking for visitors is available at the Cliff Top Car Park all day, as well as in the town centre.

The Penarth Times will be providing live updates on our website throughout the day.